Fine mapping of the flavonoid 3',5'-hydroxylase gene controlling anthocyanin biosynthesis in pepper anthers and stems.

Pepper ( L) is one of the most important vegetables grown worldwide. Nevertheless, the key structural and regulatory genes involved in anthocyanin accumulation in pepper have not been well understood or fine mapped yet. In this study, F, F, BCP, and BCP pepper populations were analyzed and these populations were derived from a cross between line 14-Z4, which has yellow anthers and green stems, and line 14-Z5, which has purple anthers and stems. The results showed that the yellow anthers and green stems were determined by a single recessive locus called to as . While, using preliminary and fine mapping techniques, locus was located between markers aywSNP120 and aywSNP124, with physical distance of 0.2 Mb. The gene was identified as promising candidate for the locus, as it co-segregated with the yellow anthers and green stems phenotypes. encodes a homolog of the F3'5'H (flavonoid 3',5'-hydroxylase) anthocyanin synthesis structure gene. The missense mutation of possibly resulted in a loss-of-function. The expression analysis showed that was significantly expressed in the stems, leaves, anthers and petals in 14-Z5, and it's silencing caused the stems changing from purple to green. This study provides a theoretical basis for using yellow anthers and green stems in pepper breeding and helps to advance the understanding of anthocyanin synthesis.